Members of the Iowa Hawkeyes offense celebrate after freshman receiver Tyrone Tracy (No. 3) pulled down a touchdown reception in the second quarter against Rutgers on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. Bryon Houlgrave, The Register

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz does an interview before a NCAA Big Ten Conference football game against Rutgers, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen

Iowa quarterback Nate Stanley (4) walks out to the field with teammates before a NCAA Big Ten Conference football game against Rutgers, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen

Iowa Hawkeyes players hold hands while running out to the field during a NCAA Big Ten Conference football game against Rutgers, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen

Iowa junior receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette pulls down a reception for a first down in the second quarter against Rutgers on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. Bryon Houlgrave, The Register

Iowa running back Tyler Goodson (15) adjusts his helmet after taking a tumble into the sideline during a NCAA Big Ten Conference football game against Rutgers, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen

Members of the Iowa Hawkeyes marching band perform during a NCAA Big Ten Conference football game against Rutgers, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen

Herky the Hawk gets in the student section during a NCAA Big Ten Conference football game against Rutgers, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz watches action on the field during a NCAA Big Ten Conference football game against Rutgers, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen

People in the Stead Family Children's hospital wave to fans in the stadium after the first quarter during a NCAA Big Ten Conference football game against Rutgers, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen

People in the Stead Family Children's hospital wave to fans in the stadium after the first quarter during a NCAA Big Ten Conference football game against Rutgers, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen

Iowa fans in the north end zone attempt to cool off during a NCAA Big Ten Conference football game against Rutgers, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen

Iowa defensive lineman John Waggoner (92) attempts to get past a block during a NCAA Big Ten Conference football game against Rutgers, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen

Iowa junior receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette enters the end zone for a touchdown in the third quarter against Rutgers on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. Bryon Houlgrave, The Register

Iowa freshman receiver Nico Ragaini is brought down after making a reception in the second quarter against Rutgers on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. Bryon Houlgrave, The Register

Iowa sophomore wide receiver Oliver Martin carries the ball after making a completion in the fourth quarter against Rutgers on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. Bryon Houlgrave, The Register

Iowa senior quarterback Nate Stanley approaches the huddle before calling a play in the second quarter against Rutgers on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. Bryon Houlgrave, The Register

Iowa senior quarterback Nate Stanley fakes a handoff to running back Mekhi Sargent in the second quarter against Rutgers on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. Bryon Houlgrave, The Register

Iowa running back Toren Young (28) celebrates with Iowa tight end Shaun Beyer (42) after scoring a first down during a NCAA Big Ten Conference football game against Rutgers, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen

Iowa students wave to patients in the Stead Family Children's Hospital during a NCAA Big Ten Conference football game against Rutgers, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen

Iowa junior receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette pulls down a reception for a first down in the second quarter against Rutgers on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. Bryon Houlgrave, The Register

Iowa junior defensive end A.J. Epenesa forces Rutgers quarterback McClane Carter to get rid of the ball in the second quarter on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. Bryon Houlgrave, The Register

Iowa junior wide receiver er Ihmir Smith-Marsette pulls down a reception for a touchdown against Rutgers in the first quarter on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. Bryon Houlgrave, The Register

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz reaches out to touch the helmet of the Nile Kinnick statue before a NCAA Big Ten Conference football game against Rutgers, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen

Iowa Hawkeyes flags wave next to a statue of Nile Kinnick before a NCAA Big Ten Conference football game against Rutgers, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen

A plane pulls an "Elite Sportsbook" banner behind it before a NCAA Big Ten Conference football game against Rutgers, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen

IOWA CITY, Ia. — A contingency of Rutgers red planted itself in the top left corner of Kinnick Stadium. The Scarlet Knights’ inaugural visit to Iowa City gave New Jersey’s own a chance to cross off another Big Ten Conference venue.

Heads were in hands by halftime — dejection evident everywhere. Another Saturday trouncing had commenced, the Hawkeyes showed no mercy.

Iowa hit a big play early, pieced together three more first-half scoring drives despite poor field position and slammed the door after intermission. The final result — a 30-0 shellacking — has Iowa (2-0, 1-0 Big Ten Conference) off to a solid start in conference play.

It became clear early these two teams operate on different spectrums. Iowa’s fifth play of the day — a 58-yard touchdown pass to New Jersey native Ihmir Smith-Marsette — accounted for more yardage than Rutgers (1-1, 0-1) accumulated the entire first half. Two Keith Duncan field goals and Tyrone Tracy’s first-career touchdown grab gave the Hawkeyes a comfortable 20-0 halftime lead.

Rutgers changed quarterbacks to start the third quarter. Not much changed. Iowa’s suffocating defense brought relentless pressure all afternoon. The Scarlet Knights finished with a measly 125 total yards.

The Jersey boy burns the Jersey squad — and more from Iowa's strong passing game.

Smith-Marsette stole the show against his hometown squad, going for a career-high 113 receiving yards on four catches. It’s the first time Iowa had a 100-yard game from a wide receiver in a conference game since Riley McCarron against Nebraska on Nov. 25, 2016.

Smith-Marsette out-scored the Scarlet Knights and out-gained them until late in the fourth quarter. But he wasn’t the only wide receiver to show out.

Two significant catches from Tyrone Tracy Jr. made for a solid Big Ten opener. He hauled in his first touchdown on a 7-yard grab midway through the second quarter, then snagged a 33-yard grab in the third that set up Smith-Marsette’s second touchdown.

Mark Kallenberger entered at left tackle on the second series, flipping Wirfs back to his natural right tackle position. Redshirt freshman Cody Ince also saw significant action at left guard. With him in, Landan Paulsen and Schott split time at right guard. True freshman Justin Britt saw the field late.

Although he dressed, Iowa opted to keep Cole Banwart (foot) out another week. Expect him to get back in the rotation next week at Iowa State.

There's a reason Keith Duncan won the kicking job.

Iowa’s kicking competition raged right up until the opener, but Saturday’s performance seemed to solidify why Keith Duncan won the job. He banged home field goals of 46, 19 and 43 yards — the first of which set a career-high.

There were no pressure kicks, given the outcome. However, Duncan’s reliability will likely prove vital at some point this year.

Dargan Southard covers Iowa and UNI athletics, recruiting and preps for the Des Moines Register, HawkCentral.com and the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Email him at msouthard@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.